Unhappy hour: Backlash as two historic London inns are sold for £3.7million to become homes

Britain's biggest pub operator has sparked a community backlash after making nearly £3.7 million by selling off two of its London sites to property developers.

The Old White Bear in Hampstead, which is more than 300 years old, and The Star in St John’s Wood face being turned into homes after being sold by Punch Taverns.

Drinkers at The Star have included Sir Paul McCartney, Dustin Hoffman and Liam Gallagher. The video for the Housemartins’ 1986 hit Happy Hour was shot there, while the pub also featured in an Arctic Monkeys video.

Former Housemartins singer Paul Heaton called it a “terrific old-fashioned pub” and urged people to sign an online petition to fight the redevelopment.

Land Registry records show Punch Taverns sold the freehold of The Star to West End Investments in July for £2.1 million.

West End Investments, run by property entrepreneur Marcus Cooper, has submitted plans to Westminster council for a “ single family dwelling”, including a games room, cinema room and a “ gym with wet and steam room”. The cellar where the beer barrels are stored would become a “habitable space”.

Giving his support on Twitter to keep The Star, Heaton wrote: “Surprise, surprise, a property developer bought the lease and wants to build a big house. Communities need pubs.”

Patrick Campbell, the petition organiser, hit out at the sale, calling The Star a “community hub” that would “leave an irreplaceable void” if it closed.

Westminster council will decide on the application later this month. West End Investments did not respond to requests for a comment. In Hampstead, The Old White Bear plans to stop serving alcohol in February after being a licensed premises since the early 18th century.

Punch Taverns sold the bar and restaurant in July for £1.575 million to Isle of Man-based Braaid Ventures. The company has submitted plans to Camden council to turn it into a six-bedroom family home.

Campaigner Jessica Learmond-Criqui said there was a “sense of outrage” about the closure. A spokesman for Braaid Ventures said The Old White Bear was not making money as a pub because beer sales were in sharp decline and it was now primarily a restaurant.

Punch Taverns said: “Both properties were sold as pubs, with alcohol licences in place and sitting tenants with long-term legal contracts. There was no suggestion of a change of use at the point of sale.”

The Campaign for Real Ale said: “London’s pubs are under siege from developers willing to pay way over the odds to turn pubs into homes.”